Shield of Sparta

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Shield of Sparta: Slot Overview

Picture, if you will, a windswept Peloponnesian plateau jutting into the rugged wintery waters of the Ionian Sea. A weathered soothsayer places his hand on a warrior's shoulder, foretelling of the great battles he will triumph in, the lands he will conquer, and, many generations hence, the tales of his glory retold in countless online slots. While the warrior might have been perplexed by this last prophecy, we, however, are not, given the abundance of Ancient Greek-themed slots saturating the market. Enter yet another contender, Shield of Sparta, courtesy of Pragmatic Play.

Shield of Sparta transports players between a rugged coastal setting in its base game and the heat of battle during the bonus round. Pragmatic Play hasn't delved deeply into the theme to unveil surprises for players familiar with Ancient Greek lore. Expect the usual array of warriors, helmets, swords, ships, and chariots – all the quintessential elements. Visually, Shield of Sparta is far from unpleasant, but its standard appearance lacks the inspiration to truly stand out.

Turning to the statistics, Shield of Sparta is a highly volatile slot, though it doesn't hold back its bonus round, often unleashing it just when players are on the verge of losing hope. At least, that was our experience during testing, as free spins triggered quite frequently. The game offers three possible RTP values, and a glance at the paytable will indicate whether you're playing with the standard 96.5% RTP or the lower 95.5%/94.5% versions. Shield of Sparta is accessible on any device, allowing players to choose bets ranging from 30 p/c to $/€100 per spin.

Set against the backdrop of Ancient Greek architecture, the game features a 5-reel, 3-row grid with 20 paylines for landing winning combinations of three to five identical symbols. The lower-paying symbols include the familiar J-A card ranks, offering payouts of 5 times the bet for five-of-a-kind. Following these are chariots, catapults, ships, and warriors, the high-paying symbols, which pay out 15 to 25 times the stake for landing five-of-a-kind. The warrior wild symbol, depicted in a close-up headshot, appears on all reels and can substitute for all symbols except the bonus symbol.

Shield of Sparta: Slot Features

While Shield of Sparta may not overwhelm players with a plethora of features, it does offer a bonus symbol respin in the base game and a free spins bonus round enriched with a total win multiplier component.

Bonus Symbols

In Shield of Sparta, there are two types of bonus symbols: regular and magnetic. These symbols can appear on all reels, and when 2 bonus or magnetic bonus symbols land, they are locked in place while the remaining symbols respin once. If 3 or more bonus or magnetic bonus symbols appear, they trigger the free spins feature.

Free Spins

When 3, 4, or 5 bonus or magnetic bonus symbols land, players are awarded 10, 15, or 20 free spins, respectively. During the free spins round, the positions where the triggering bonus or magnetic bonus symbols landed are highlighted with a frame. If a new bonus symbol lands in a marked position, the position is upgraded, with a maximum of three levels possible. At Level 3, marked positions become magnetic, nudging any bonus symbol that lands on their reel towards them. If a position is not initially magnetic but a magnetic bonus symbol lands there, it is upgraded to magnetic.

At the conclusion of the free spins round, all marked positions display a random multiplier based on their level. Level 1 multipliers range from x1 to x3, Level 2 from x5 to x8, and Level 3 from x10 to x20. These multipliers are then combined and applied to the total win of the free spins round. Additionally, during the feature, landing 3, 4, or 5 bonus or magnetic bonus symbols retriggers the round with 10, 15, or 20 free spins, respectively.

Comparison with Other Games

Game Design of Shield of Sparta

Theme and Visuals

• Warrior’s Quest: “Shield of Sparta” transports players to the heart of ancient Greece, where brave Spartans defend their city-states. The backdrop features rugged landscapes, imposing temples, and the iconic Spartan shield.
• Symbols: The reels showcase symbols like warriors, chariots, catapults, and ships. The attention to detail in the artwork brings the historical theme to life.

Gameplay Mechanics

• Base Game: The 5x3 grid offers 20 fixed paylines. Expect intense volatility, with the bonus round often surprising players when hope seems lost.
• Regular Payouts: Winning combinations occur when matching symbols land across adjacent reels from left to right. Premium symbols include chariots, catapults, ships, and fierce warriors.
• Wilds: The warrior wild symbol substitutes for all other symbols except the bonus symbol, potentially leading to significant wins.

Shield of Sparta: Slot Verdict

For those of us not well-versed in Ancient Greek history, the appearance of a catapult symbol in Shield of Sparta might raise some questions about its historical accuracy. After a bit of research, it turns out that catapults did indeed come into use in Greece around the fourth century BC, although they had earlier origins in places like China, India, and Judah. So, it seems fitting that Shield of Sparta, with its focus on warfare and combat, would include such symbols.

If we were to liken Shield of Sparta to a war, the base game could be compared to Hoplites marching stoically to the battlefield, preparing to face their adversaries. However, the real action begins with the free spins feature, where things have the potential to heat up, thanks to the framed position/multiplier element. During testing, free spins were triggered relatively frequently, breaking up the monotony of the low-thrills base game. The framed positions with multipliers added a layer of excitement, particularly towards the end of the bonus round when random multipliers are revealed and applied to the total round win. However, don't expect monumental results, as Shield of Sparta's maximum win is capped at 3,000 times the bet.

While Shield of Sparta may not reach the levels of glory seen at Thermopylae, it offers a gaming experience that matches its overall theme – basic yet visually pleasing. The framed position/multiplier feature in the free spins phase adds a touch of creativity, but it appears that Pragmatic Play didn't go to great lengths to develop it further.